Book carrier



A. K. GOETZ June 29, 1965 I FEEE INVENTOR. ALFRED K @OETZ BY I June 29, 1965 A. K. GOETZ 3,191,830

00K CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALFQEU K. @0572 ATTozNeYsf United States Patent 3,191,830 BOOK CARRIER Alfred K. Goetz, 3175 W. 115th St., Cleveland, Ohio Filed Aug. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 217,175 3 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) This application relates to carriers for articles, such as books and the like, and has for its object the provisions of simple, rugged, relatively inexpensive devices to facilitate the carrying of articles, such as books, in good order and securel and which are light and compact and readily carried in the pocket or briefcase when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier with a minimum number of components, yet providing a rigid package with a suitable handle that is easily attached or removed.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred form thereof, a handle is provided with an extension plate that reaches part way between a pair of articles, such as books, and is used in conjunction with a wrap around strap. The extension plate rigidly attaches the handle to the strapped books. The carrier has the added feature of providing some self-adjustment in the case of a wide span of heavy books, or when the strap is too loosely attached. In case the strap is initially too loose for the pressure on the extension plate from the adjacent books to provide sufiicient friction to support the weight of the books and the plate slides out some, the tension of the strap around the books is increased, which then provides the necessary holding force to the extension plate. This adjustment is made by holding the handle and shaking vertically once. When not in use to carry books, the holder is light in weight, pocket size, which further redounds to its usefulness.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown as arranged for carrying or holding a pair of books;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a section of the apparatus of FIG. 3, represented as cut by a plane 44, indicated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of still another embodiment of the invention.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawing to designate like parts.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a plate 11 composed of a suitable, relatively rigid, bendable material such as sheet steel, for example, in substantially rectangular form with an upper edge 12 bent transversely to form a horizontal surface to which a handle 13 of the type may be joined by spot welding, brazing or the like.

The handle 13 comprises a strip of sheet metal such as steel strip 14 with a center portion divided into two parts 15 and 16 secured to the portion 12 of the plate 11. In the embodiment illustrated, the portions 15 and 16 of the strip 14 are joined to the plate 11 by spot welds 17.

Preferably, a strap guide 18 is formed in the handle 13 by suitably forming the strip 14 with a bent up por- 3,191,830 Patented June 29, 1965 tion 19, leaving a slot 21 between the portion 19 of the strip 14 and the portion 12 of the plate 11.

The slot 21 is sufiiciently wide to receive loosely a strap 22 which is of sufficient length to wrap around the plate 11 and any books or similar objects 23 and 24 .placed on either side of the plate 11 and held thereagaiust by tightening the strap 22 at its buckle 25. As illustrated, the plate 11 is of relatively thin material and of considerably greater width (vertical dimension in FIGS. 1 and 4) than the strip 14 forming the handle 13, and is thereby adapted to extend partially between the books 23 and 24. 7

Although in the embodiment illustrated, two books 23 and 24 are shown, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to securing books to both sides of the plate 11, although the holder of the invention is particularly well adapted to carrying a symmetrical arrangement of books. It will be understood also that the invention is not limited to a'single book 23 and a single book 24 on opposite sides of the plate 11, as, if desired, a plurality of books may be mounted on either side of the plate 11.

The handle 13 includes also a pair of end portions 26 and 27 of the strip 14, which are bent as shown substantially at right angles to the portions 15 and 16 of the strip 14, and a grip 28 composed of suitable material such as wood, preferably round or smooth surfaced so as to avoid cutting or injury to the hand. Suitable means, such as a semi-tubular rivet 29, is provided at each end of the grip 28 for securing it to the strip ends 26 and 27. Preferably, the rivets 29 make a loose fit in openings therefor in the strip ends 26and 27 so that the handle grip 28 is rotatable and friction upon the fingers or hands of the person carrying the assembly is avoided.

The arrangement is such as to minimize tendency for books 23 and 24 to slide along the surface of the plate 11 in order to relieve the strap 22 of some of the forces transverse to the strap and accomplish a more rigid, secure attachment of the books 23 and 24 to the handle 13 and plate 11 by means of the strap 22. Tendency for longitudinal sliding of the books 23 and 24 is minimized in the embodiment illustrated by roughening or expanding the area 31 along the lower edge 32 of the plate 11, for example, by cementing, gluing, pasting, or otherwise applying strips of friction material such as friction tape 33 to the plate 11 along the area 31. The friction strips or pads 33 serve also to localize gripping action toward the bottom of the plate 11 thus tending to give the handle 13 greater stability. The resultant construction is a unitary device with no moving parts other than the strap 22 which may readily be folded up into a small compact object with the strap 22 wrapped around the plate 11 when no books, such as books 23 and 24, are being carried and the book carrier may then readily be carried in a pocket or briefcase.

Although in FIGS. 1 to 4 a unitary device is produced by joinder of separate parts, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction illustrated and, if desired, the entire carrier, other than the strap, may be formed from a single piece of relatively rigid sheet material, such as sheet steel.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a sheet 34 of substantially rectangular outline may be formed with a window 35 cut or stamped out and with cuts made upward along the edges 36 of the window 35 along lines 37 extending to points 38 spaced from the top edge 39 of the plate 34. In this case, the sheet material from the window 35 severed along the lines of cuts 37 is curved upward to form a rounded surface 41, serving as a grip for a handle formed by the material along the edge 39 in conjunction with the window opening 35 to which the fingers of the person holding the carrier may pass.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a transverse bend is made in the sheet material 34, in this case taking the form of a transverse bend 42along the lower edge 43 of the sheet 34. The transverse portion 42 serves as a rest for a book secured against a surface of the sheet 34. As in the embodiment ofFlGS. 1 to 4, it will be understood that a strap, such as the strap 22 (not shown in FIG. is provided for securing books or similar articles on one or both sides of the plate 34. In order to accommodate the carrier of FIG. 5 to books of various sizes located with their bottom edges along the transverse portion 42, the window opening is extended downward, as indicated by a slot 44, so that a strap may pass through the slot 44 at a height determined by the upper edge of a book or books strapped against the plate 34.

Although in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the transverse portion 42 is shown along a lower edge of the plate 34, .it will be understood that the invention is not limited to producing the transverse bend at this portion of the plate 34.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a transverse bend 45 may be provided at an intermediate portion of a plate 46 similar to the plate 34. As shown, there are two right angle bends along lines 47 and 48 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 producing the transverse portion 45. This corresponds to the transverse portion 12 of the plate 11 in FIG. 4, against which a strap may be wrapped and against which books to be carried, similar to the book 23 of FIG. 1, may be held by a strap corresponding to the strap 22. As shown in FIG. 6, the window 35 is extended downwardly to the transverse portion 45 of the holder to form a notch 49 serving as a strap locater and guide corresponding to the slot 21 of FIG. 3.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein have been shown and particularly described for the purpose of explaining the principle of'operation of the invention and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and it is intended therefore, to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A book carrier comprising in combination a relatively fiat, thin plate, a handle thereon, the plate having a width in the direction extending away from the handle greater than the width of the handle, and a strap passing through the handle and around the plate for securing books to the handle and against the plate on either side of the plate and parallel to. the plate, against it, with the plate extending partially between the books.

2. A book carrier comprising in combination a metallic plate having a transversely bent portion, a handle on said transversely bent portion, a strap guide secured to said transversely bent portion and a strap passing through said guide adapted to pass around said plate for securing books to said handle against the plate on either side thereof, the width of the plate in a direction away from the transversely bent portion being considerably greater than the width of the transversely bent portion measured from the plate, whereby the plate is adapted to extend partially between the books.

3. A book carrier as in claim 1 wherein the plate has a lower edge away from said handle, extending transversely to the direction of the strap and the area of said plate along said edge is provided with a friction surface facilitating maintenance of books in alignment against said plate when secured by said strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 188,199 3/77 Smith 22445.13

408,937 8/89 Sutton 22450 1,498,247 6/24 Stewart 224-57 1,553,297 9/25 Place 224-4514 1,985,571 12/34 Hetzel 22445.14 2,730,968 1/56 Faus 206- 3,009,214 11/61 Thompson 22445.14

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner. 

1. A BOOK CARRIER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A RELATIVELY FLAT, THIN PLATE, A HANDLE THEREON, THE PLATE HAVING A WIDTH IN THE DIRECTION EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE HANDLE GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE HANDLE, AND A STRAP PASSING THROUGH THE HANDLE AND AROUND THE PLATE FOR SECURING BOOKS TO THE HANDLE AND AGAINST THE PLATE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PLATE AND PARALLEL TO THE PLATE, AGAINST IT, WITH THE PLATE EXTENDING PARTIALLY BETWEEN THE BOOKS. 